Sophie Molineux discusses 28-month injury agony after being recalled to Australia’s Test squad

Her recollection is vivid.

It was a Monday morning. She was in the gym at Junction Oval as rain poured down outside. In between sets, she noticed a missed call from national selector Shawn Flegler.

It had been 28 months since Molineux last played for Australia back in October 2021 – a time when Matthew Mott was still coach, Meg Lanning was still captain and Rachael Haynes was still a core part of the team. Her foot and ACL were also in working order back then.

The same can’t be said of the two years and four months since.

First, Molineux suffered a stress fracture in her right foot during the final weeks of the 2021 WBBL season. A year later, she ruptured her ACL captaining the Melbourne Renegades.

Dancing on stage with Katy Perry in the dizzying aftermath of Australia’s victorious T20 World Cup campaign in 2020 was suddenly a distant memory. Molineux missed the 2022 Ashes, the 2022 ODI World Cup and the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

She also lost her national contract.

The left-arm spinner thought her international career was done. Then, out of nowhere, came the phone call to inform her she had been selected in Australia’s Test squad to face South Africa at the WACA Ground.

“I called (Flegler) back and he said that they were keen to bring me over here for the Test,” Molineux told CODE Sports. “I went a bit quiet and started tearing up a little bit.

“Flegs was like, ‘Are you alright? Are you there?’ and I said, ‘Yeah, sorry, give me a minute!’

“It was a call at times I never thought I’d get again.

“To have got it for a Test match over here is pretty special. To be a part of this Aussie group, who I’ve been watching closely the past couple of years and a couple of close mates, I’m pinching myself.”

Molineux only returned to action for Victoria in December. In just her second game back, she finished with six wickets and 62 runs.

The 26-year-old currently sits equal-first on the WNCL wicket tally, taking 17 at 14.47 in six matches. She also produced a half century when she captained the Governor-General’s XI to victory over South Africa last month.

Despite this, Molineux wasn’t eyeing an Australian recall.

“Getting back from my knee, I’d always hoped that I’d play for Australia again but it wasn’t my main focus,” she said. “I just wanted to get back to playing cricket, being happy and healthy while doing it, and play for a long time to come. I also wanted to enjoy it.

“I’m really grateful for the time I’ve spent with Victoria. I love coming to work every day. The past six weeks have been incredible. I’ve been able to take stock and realise that that’s what cricket means to me, it’s that connection piece.

“Of course, I want to stay here and play for Australia and contribute to any team I play in. At the end of it, that’s the part I missed the most when I wasn’t playing … the change rooms after a win, singing the song, those difficult conversations after a loss.”

Molineux’s renewed mindset has been a year in the making.

“As tricky as those 12 months were, I learnt a lot about myself,” she said. “Patience especially.

“With an ACL, you know it’s going to be a long time. I did get caught a few times getting overwhelmed by how long I wasn’t going to be playing. I had to work on being as present as possible and taking things day by day. Hopefully, those little things hold me in good stead for what’s to come.”

Upon reflection, Molineux now acknowledges those exact virtues were lacking when she first returned from her foot injury.

“I remember going through that and being very ready and chomping at the bit to come back and play,” she said. “Obviously I lost an Aussie contract in that time as well so I was pretty keen to get back.

“To do my ACL, you just don’t expect it. I’ve never had any knee issues or anything like that. In hindsight, I probably got too ahead of myself and was looking too far forward.

“When that happened, it was flattening thinking about the next 12 months.”

As if the physical recovery wasn’t challenging enough, Molineux also had to confront mental scars. She tore her ACL while bowling; her left knee buckling beneath her as she followed through.

Returning to play meant re-tracing the same motion that undid her every time she was thrown the ball.

“I remember the first time I picked up a ball and bowled again around July or August,” she recalled. “I probably built that moment up in my head. I was so excited to get back and practise that skill. But those first couple of sessions I was a bit shaky and relieved that they were over.”

The last box left to tick in Molineux’s inspiring return is converting her squad selection into a spot in Australia’s XI from Thursday.

Hot and dry conditions are expected in Perth and Australia has played three spinners in previous matches against South Africa this series. But Flegler has conceded that Australia is unlikely to name two left-armers in the same team, leaving selectors with a choice between Molineux and incumbent Jess Jonassen.

If a recall eventuated, it would mean the world.

“It’s hard to articulate,” Molineux said. “There’s so many people that have helped me over the past 12-24 months.

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“It’s probably worth more to them than to me, to be honest. My parents and my younger sister are going to make the trip over and they’re really happy that I’m back playing.

“Getting the call-up, you start reflecting on the last couple of years. I’m probably a different person, a different player than when I was three years ago.

“There’s a lot of growth that happens.”